Diana Golovanova, Researcher at the Gaidar Institute’s International Best Practices Analysis Department, assessed the prospects for establishing a child support fund in Russia in a commentary for Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
According to the expert, the creation of a state child support fund in Russia could improve children’s financial security, but it requires significant budgetary resources and systemic changes. The current mechanism only begins to function after a court proceeding, which delays the receipt of funds.
“The collection system only begins to operate after filing a lawsuit and initiating enforcement proceedings. As a result, the child’s well-being depends on lengthy bureaucratic procedures and the payer’s good faith. This is precisely the rationale behind the idea of creating a state child support fund: under such a fund, the state would pay the child a set amount from the budget and then independently collect these funds from the debtor,” explained Diana Golovanova.
The expert emphasizes that a similar model is already in use in a number of Western countries and ensures stable payments regardless of the effectiveness of bailiffs.
“It is expected that this will provide the child with stable financial support regardless of how quickly bailiffs locate the debtor. However, the main obstacle remains the issue of funding, since the creation of such a fund will require additional budgetary expenditures,” noted Diana Golovanova.
Thus, the introduction of an alimony fund could be an important step in social policy, but its implementation will depend on the state’s willingness to ensure sustainable funding and refine existing collection mechanisms.